· Says they are after their stomach, not Nigerians
· “Tinubu is seer for appointing Wike – Anglican cleric
· Netziens slam Church for allowing politicking on altar
By Sarah NEGEDU & Laraba MUREY
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday stepped up attack against leaders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, coalition, accusing them of not being interested in rescuing Nigerians, rather their self-interest.
Wike, at a thanksgiving service at the St. James Anglican Church Asokoro, Abuja, to mark the 16-day inauguration of completed projects by the FCT administration, claimed that Nigerians were angry with those who failed to perform while in office.
“How can Nigerians not be angry with you? In 1999, you were at this party. In 2006. In 2014, you moved to another party.
“In 2019, you came back to another party. Now, in 2025, you have moved to another party? To rescue whom? You want to rescue your stomach; it’s not Nigerians you want to rescue.”
Pointedly speaking about Mr. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election, Wike said, “Some of you have sympathy for somebody you don’t know. You say Peter Obi will be president. President where? For eight years, he was governor; he never conducted local government elections. That is what you describe as democracy. Only you were the governor and chairman of the local governments.”
On the interim national chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, whom he did not mention by name, the FCT minister stated, “Ask yourself a question. Just ask yourself. I was a Senate President for eight years, for example, and I cannot provide a road to my local government, Otukpo, and I will fly a helicopter to Otukpo — eight years!. It is now, you say you want to rescue Nigeria.
“Which Nigeria do you want to rescue?”
Also, on Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, former governor and minister, he had this to “Somebody was speaker for eight years, governor, eight years, minister, eight years, he didn’t know that Nigerians were angry. It’s just these two years he left office, you’re telling Nigerians that Nigerians are angry.
“Why won’t they be angry. Why won’t they be angry when, in eight years as Minister of Transportation, you borrowed so much money from China, making us highly indebted? You have borrowed the future of Nigerians. You said Nigerians are angry; they are angry with you.”
He did not also spare former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and former Minister of Interior and now the interim national secretary of the ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
According to Wike, “Here, you were the Attorney General of the Federation for eight years. Every time we are paying for judgment debt. Nigeria is every time in the news about corruption, corruption, corruption, corruption.
“And these are the same people who want to rescue Nigeria. You were the Minister for Interior, yet to get an international passport, you will spend weeks, months, and years before you get your international passport. But look at a young boy, see what he has done? Within hours, you have get your international passport.
Wike urged Christians to be patient with Tinubu and pray for the administration, rather than bother about “people who have lost their chances to put Nigeria right”.
He said, “All I appeal to the church, just be patient and continue to pray for Mr. President, for the administration. Forget about people who have lost their chances to put Nigeria right. They won’t have the chance again.
“They cannot stay out of power. Unfortunately, they have stayed out; they won’t come back.”
Earlier, the presiding vicar of the church, Rev. Ben Idume, eulogized President Bola Tinubu for his choice of Wike as the FCT Minister.
“I never knew that Tinubu can see vision, whether he closes his eyes or opens them, for giving us Minister Wike,” Rev. Idume said.
However, Netziens have taken exceptions for Wike’s political talk on the altar of God, describing it as unfortunate.
A Facebook user, Kachison Ekwugha, who identified himself as an Anglican, took umbrage at the minister’s conduct and for the church not acting on the minister’s speech.
“I am a proud Anglican but I will be unapologetic about this.
“That Wike went for thanksgiving at St James Asokoro Abuja and used the opportunity to unleash all manner of criticisms borne out of selfishness on Peter Obi even to the point of predicting the future that PO can’t be President of Nigeria that his time has passed is really disappointing to the church of God for giving him such platform.
“I never knew Wike is now a prophet, a mortal man who is not even sure of his tomorrow, he feels he is now a demigod but time shall tell. Let him enjoy his power while it lasts. At some point he was governor, today he is former, tomorrow and very soon he will be a former minister until then we shall know his strength because nothing lasts forever.
“Now back to the Anglican Church, I was bothered why they were all relaxed and watched Wike’s ill-mannered vituperations, even cheering him up while the jester entertained them. I expected the Vicar to call him to order, he can talk anyhow outside but not in the church, church is governed by godly principles which should be followed all no matter your class.
“Allowing Wike to get away with such statements simply means the church is in sync with all he said,” Ekwuga wrote.
